Portable flash light



Jam '15, 1929. Y 1,699,344

M. E. BUCHHOLZ PORTABLE-FLASHLIGHT Filed Feb 17, 1927 vwewto'c Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

MAX E. BUCI-IHOLZ, OF I-IOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 BRIGHT STAR BATZI ERY PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, INC., OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PORTABLE FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed February 17, 1927. Serial No. 168,864.

This inventionrelates to portable electric lamps and more especially to that type wherein a battery and bulb are assembled with a suitable casing having a switch mechanism for controlling flow of current from the battery to the bulb conveniently placed on the casing for operation by the thumb of the hand holding the lamp.

Heretofore lamps of this general character have been provided in some instances with means for suspending them from a nail, hook or other support, these means having been so devised and arranged that the lamp was suspended from the end opposite the lens and bulb, thereby directing the light downwardly and permitting the lens end to swing freely. As a result, many lenses were broken by contact with adjacent objects. Moreover, with the lamp suspended in this position the weight of the battery is placed upon the base of the bulb, thereby frequently resulting in injury to the lens and the base of the bulb.

An object of this invention is a means of support for lamps of this character by means of which the lamp is so suspended that the lens end is substantially stationary relative to its support and the weight of the battery is carried upon the spring provided in the cap at the base of the lamp, thus eliminating the danger of injury to t e lens'and to the bulb base. I

According to this invention, a metal supporting member or bail is hinged to the contact box in which is arranged the switch mechanism, preferably at the end thereof adjacent the lens and is of substantially the same configuration as the periphery of the contact box, so that when in inoperative position it fits snugly around the contact box out of the way. When it is desired to suspend the lamp from a hook or the like, the bail is swung about its axis to its operative position, and, because of its location near the lens, the lamp will be supported with the lens pointing upwardly, thereby ensuring that the weight of the battery is carried by the spring provided in the cap at the base of the lamp. A guard plate may be mounted on the bail to cover the contact box, thereby preventing accidental operation of the switch mechanism.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a lamp e'mbodying the invention with the bail in inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bail in operative position;

Fig. 3 discloses a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44L of Fig. 3.

The lamp comprises atubular casing 10 having a base cap 11 at one end and at the other end a cap 12 in which is mounted a lens 18. Within the cap 12, but not shown, are arranged the bulb and reflector common to lamps of this character. Mounted on the casing 10 adjacent the cap 12- is a contact box 1 1 in which is slidably mounted a contact operating member 15,. the movement of which controls the flow of current from the battery ,(not shown). within the casing 10 to the bulb in the cap 12, this member being operable by the thumb of the hand hold-.

ing the lamp.

A loop or bail 16 is pivoted to that end of the contact box 14 adjacent the cap 12. The contour of the bail 16 conforms to the periphery of the contact box 14, so that in its lnoperative position it fits snugly around the contact box. In Fig. 1, the bail 16 is shown in its inoperative position in which it rests against the base of the contact box 14:, whereas in Fig: 2 it is shown in its operative position. Because of the fact that the bail 16 is pivoted to the contact box adjacent the cap 12, the lamp, when suspended, takes the position shown in Fig. 2 with the lens pointing upwardly. In this position, the battery is supported from the cap 11 and there is no strain upon the lens or the bulb base, thus ensuring greater life for the bulb, especially when the lamp is subjected to violent movement, as by being suspended in a moving vehicle or is carried on the person. Moreover, in this position the lens end of the lamp is capable of but a limited movement, so that the chance of its striking an object and breaking the lens is very slight.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is disclosed a modified form of the invention. A plate or shield 17 of proper size and shape substantially to cover the contact box is mounted on the bail 16. To facilitate use of the bail 16 as a means of suspending the lamp, the plate 17 is cut away to provide an aperture 18 extending to the bight of the bail. With the bail 16 arranged in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the plate 17 prevents accidental movement of the contact operating member 15. When it is desired to utilize the bail 16 to suspend the lamp, it is swung into the operative position shown in Fig. 2 and the hook or the like from which it is to be suspended is arranged within the aperture 18. With this modification, the lamp is supported with the bulb pointing upwardly in such a manner that the lens end of the lamp is capable of but a limited movement, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of its striking any object and injuring the lens or the bulb. Also the weight of the battery is supported by the cap 11, there being no strain on the lens or the bulb.

It is of course understood that while the above specification presents the invention in its preferred form, various changes and modifications may be made in the structure without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim z? 1. In a portable electric lamp, a casing, a contact box attached thereto, a supporting member pivotally attached to said contact box for use in suspending said lamp, and a shield mounted on said member and adapted to overlie said contact box when said suspending member is in its inoperative posi tion.

2. A portable electric lamp comprising a tubular casing arranged to contain a battery and having a base cap at one end and a bulb and a lens at the other end, a contactbox mounted on the casing adjacent the lens end thereof and a bail pivotally attached to the end of said contact box adja cent said bulb and lens whereby when the lamp is suspended by said bail the weight of the battery contained in the casing is supported by said base cap, said bail being of substantially the same contour as the periphery of said contact box to permit the bail to be arranged around saidcontact box when not in use.

3. A portable electric lamp comprising a tubular casing arranged to contain a battery and having a base cap atone end and a bulb and lens at the other end, a contact box mounted on said casing, and 'a bail pivotally attached to one end of said contact box,

the location of said bail with respect to the casing being such that when the lamp is suspended by said bail the weight of the battery contained in the casing is supported by said base cap, said bail being of substantially the same contour as the periphery of said contact box to permit the bail to be arranged around said contact box when not in use.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MAX 'E. BUCHHOLZ. 

